Another 'what should I get' post

[kixy1]

I'll make this short and sweet. I've been diving some old Aeris for around 10 years. I'm looking for a new computer because it doesn't give me a few things I want. Nothing wrong with mine, other than it won't die so I can truly justify replacing it!

Here's my wish list:

1) SIMPLE and easy to use

2) EASY to read...I have mature eyes

3) Automatically turns on when it gets wet. This I must have, mine doesn't. Nuff said?

4) Nitrox capable

5) Safety stop timer. Again, don't have this, want it.

6) Easy to find/push buttons. I can't remember what brand I borrowed from a friend, but the buttons were so tiny I couldn't hardly find them, forget about pushing them

7) I want to be able to customize or just turn off annoying audible alarms

8) Do I need to say price? I don't want all the bells and whistles...I'm even willing to compromise on some of my wish list, so please don't suggest some $1200 computer set up. Don't even suggest a $700 one.

I really don't care about computer interface, or air integration (is that a mistake?)

 

[Bigd2722]

check out dive nav. you can load these parameters and see what comes up

 

[Tortuga68]

Suunto Zoop or some puck variant should meet most of your criteria

 

[DiveNav]

check out dive nav. you can load these parameters and see what comes up

here is the link to our Dive Computers Research Tool

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I could suggest a computer that meets nearly all you requirements with:

1) SIMPLE and easy to use

A very user friendly and intuitive interface, where you can (literally) figure out all the menus and functions in about 10 minutes without ever opening a manual.

2) EASY to read...I have mature eyes

An OLED display that is superb for mature eyes, and can be read from 18" to 15 ft away even with my 48 year old reading glasses dependent eyes.

3) Automatically turns on when it gets wet. This I must have, mine doesn't. Nuff said?

Automatic activation (not based on "wet: but rather "pressure" which is actually better as it won't activate or stay activated in a dive bag and/or if salt crystals bridge the contacts.

4) Nitrox capable

Nitrox mixes from 1% to 100% and up to 5 separate gasses pre-programed and on/off selectable on any dive.

5) Safety stop timer. Again, don't have this, want it.

Not per se, but it will display the current gradient factor telling you what advantage (if any) remains in a longer safety stop, or whether one is beneficial at all. That's better than just an arbitrary 3 minute or 5 minute stop timer as it gives you the information to make an informed decision of how long to stop.

6) Easy to find/push buttons. I can't remember what brand I borrowed from a friend, but the buttons were so tiny I couldn't hardly find them, forget about pushing them

Large, easy to find piezo electric buttons that cannot trap sand and won't stick.

7) I want to be able to customize or just turn off annoying audible alarms

What audible alarms?

----

But I won't suggest it as it will cost you about $800. You can't always get what you want at a budget price, so you;ll have to decide what matters most to you and either cut features or

 

[Teller]

Hollis DG03 with DSS bungee mount from dive gear express. I got mine for $370.

 

[DiveNav]

......Automatic activation (not based on "wet: but rather "pressure" which is actually better as it won't activate or stay activated in a dive bag and/or if salt crystals bridge the contacts.
.......

Unless you design your own pressure sensor - or use an old analog pressure sensor ..... - , a real "automatic activation by pressure" is not feasible as it would require the controller to actually be awake in order to read the pressure coming from the sensor.....
A "water sensor" on the other hand is a simple op-amp (even better - a Schmitt Trigger) that generates an interrupt (and wakes up the controller) when the resistance changes.

Personally, I disabled the automatic activation on my dive computer. This forces me to check my dive computer before every dive

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[Hatul]

How about the Liquivision Kaon?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Unless you design your own pressure sensor - or use an old analog pressure sensor ..... - , a real "automatic activation by pressure" is not feasible as it would require the controller to actually be awake in order to read the pressure coming from the sensor.....
A "water sensor" on the other hand is a simple op-amp (even better - a Schmitt Trigger) that generates an interrupt (and wakes up the controller) when the resistance changes.

Personally, I disabled the automatic activation on my dive computer. This forces me to check my dive computer before every dive

Alberto (aka eDiver)

Shearwater seems to get it to work pretty well. I've played with it to see how it works, and it works well, coming on at about 30 ft - about the time you think "crap..it's not working".

I agree with you on the lack of need however, as if the dive computer is off, you probably did not check it late enough pre-dive, but in the event a diver does forget, it's nice to have.

The issue I have with auto activation is that it is also normally accompanied with a battery saving feature that turns the computer off after i check it/set it pre-dive, and before I actually splash. That's a PITA and that not so helpful feature more or less necessitates the auto activation feature. I prefer the Shearwater approach where, for the most part it leaves me in charge of turning things on and off, with the pressure activation as a last ditch backup.

 

[SangP]

I'll make this short and sweet. I've been diving some old Aeris for around 10 years. I'm looking for a new computer because it doesn't give me a few things I want. Nothing wrong with mine, other than it won't die so I can truly justify replacing it!

Here's my wish list:

1) SIMPLE and easy to use

2) EASY to read...I have mature eyes

3) Automatically turns on when it gets wet. This I must have, mine doesn't. Nuff said?

4) Nitrox capable

5) Safety stop timer. Again, don't have this, want it.

6) Easy to find/push buttons. I can't remember what brand I borrowed from a friend, but the buttons were so tiny I couldn't hardly find them, forget about pushing them

7) I want to be able to customize or just turn off annoying audible alarms

8) Do I need to say price? I don't want all the bells and whistles...I'm even willing to compromise on some of my wish list, so please don't suggest some $1200 computer set up. Don't even suggest a $700 one.

I really don't care about computer interface, or air integration (is that a mistake?)

Hows this then?
Uwatec Aladin 2G Wrist Computer